Wali Khan Babar

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2. Measuring Progress Against Stubborn Reality

In November 2013, the United Nations General Assembly put the issue of impunity squarely on the global agenda.

The Resolution on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, adopted by consensus, describes the absence of justice for victims as “one of the main challenges to strengthening the protection of journalists.” It calls on states to “ensure accountability through the conduct of impartial, speedy, and effective investigations into all alleged violence against journalists and media workers falling within their jurisdiction.” Governments are further charged to “bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice and to ensure that victims have access to appropriate remedies.” The resolution proclaims November 2 as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

3. Where Impunity Thrives

A climate of impunity reached a tragic culmination on November 23, 2009, when gunmen ambushed a caravan escorting political candidate Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu as he prepared to file papers to become a candidate for provincial governor in the Philippines. The attackers slaughtered 58 people, among them 30 journalists and two media workers, the largest toll of journalists murdered in a single act since CPJ began keeping track in 1992.

For the last decade, Pakistan has been one of the world's
most dangerous countries for the media. At least 46 journalists have been killed, 24 of them murdered for the
"crime" of covering the intelligence services, the Taliban, separatists in
Baluchistan, or the criminal underworld. The result is a legacy of
self-censorship and fear among the Pakistan press; critical stories go
unreported.

New
York, March 3, 2014--A Pakistani court on Saturday convicted six defendants for their
roles in the murder of Wali Khan Babar, a Geo TV
journalist who was shot dead in Karachi in January
2011, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes
the convictions--the first
in the murder of a Pakistani journalist--but calls on authorities to ensure
the masterminds are brought to justice.

Three years have passed since the murder of Geo TV
journalist Wali Khan Babar in Karachi. While no justice has been found in
Babar's case, his death has not been forgotten. Journalists Beena Sarwar, Umar
Cheema, and Malik Siraj Akbar along with CPJ's Bob Dietz commemorated the
anniversary of Babar's death on Monday during a HuffPost Live discussion: "Pakistan's
Press in Peril?"

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After more than a week since journalist Shan Dahar's death,
it remains unclear whether he was killed in an accident or targeted for murder--and
if targeted, why. The confusion serves as yet another example of how weak
investigations and a lack of accountability have become the hallmarks of
journalist killings in Pakistan.

Among
the more 200,000 Pakistanis living in London is Altaf Hussain, leader of the
Muttahida Qaumi Movement. This powerful political party is widely thought to be behind the murder of reporter Wali Khan Babar,
a rising star at Geo TV who was shot dead in Karachi in 2011. His coverage
focused on politically sensitive topics such as extortion, targeted killings,
electricity thefts, land-grabbing, and riots.

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Pakistan's Endangered Press
And the Perilous Web of Militancy, Security, and Politics

More than 20 journalists have been murdered in reprisal for their work in Pakistan over the past decade. Not one case has been solved, not a single conviction won. This perfect record of impunity has fostered an ever-more violent climate for journalists. Fatalities have jumped in the past five years, and today, Pakistan ranks among the world’s deadliest nations for the press. The targeted killings of two journalists—Wali Khan Babar in Karachi and Mukarram Khan Aatif in the tribal areas—illustrate the culture of manipulation, intimidation, and retribution that has led to this killing spree. A CPJ special report by Elizabeth Rubin